Improvement in hydraulic telescopic platform-elevators



1. PARKESL cook. Hydraulic Telescopic Platform-Elevator.

Nb. 129,421.4 PatentedJuIy 16,1872.

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PATENT OFFICE.

JUDAH PARKER AND ISAAC COOK, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 129,421, dated July 16,1872; antedated July 11, 1872.

SPECEICATION.

To all fwhom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JUDAH PARKER and ISAAC COOK, of San Francisco, inthe county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a newand useful Hydraulic and Pneumatic Tower for Fire and other purposes;and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawingand to the letters of reference marked thereon.

^ The object of our invention is to provide an improved tower or devicefor attaining an elevation for the purpose of reaching lofty points incase of fires and for other purposes; and it consists of a series ofsections of suitable shape, each one being smaller than the one nextbelow it, so that when put together each section above will slide intothe next below, and the whole can be shut or opened like a telescope.The joints are made tight, and when water or air is forced into themachine the sections will be elevated as high as desired. An adjustablebridge is attached to the top, and a suitable nozzle for hose, so thatwater can be carried directly into any window or upon the roof of abuilding. It also consists of various operating devices which will bemore particularly described hereafter.

In the drawing is represented a perspective view of an improvedpneumatic tower.

A is a strong base-plate, which may be made of iron or wood in anysuitable manner, and mounted upon wheels for greater convenience oftransportation. At each corner of the platformA are leveling-screws B,which are turned down so as to rest upon the ground and level up theplatform, besides giving it great steadiness. Midway in each of thesides are sockets C,into.which extension bars can be placed, which,reaching out horizontally, serve to give a much larger base and greatadditional stiiness when required. The tower is made preferably ofboiler-iron, in cylindrical sections D, of about seven feet or otherconvenient length. These sections are made of a decreasing size, so thateach section slides into the next below', tting closely. Flanges d daremade upon the sections, which prevent them from being forced entirelyapart, and collars are so arranged as to hold packing, as at e, to renf"der the whole perfectly tight. A platform, F, of considerable length, issecured to the top of the smallest of the sectionsD, so as to extendsome distance horizontally each side ofthe tower, and it is so attachedthat it can be rotated to point in any direction which may be desired,by means of the gear-wheel G and pinion H. A sliding platform, I, istted to be moved out in a line with the platform F, on one side, bymeans of a rack and pinion, or any well-known device, so that when thetower is at the proper height and the platform pointed in the rightdirection, this platform I can be extended' to the roof or to a window.One or more nozzles, J, for the attaching of hose, arise 'from the topof the smaller section, and the pipe J' extends down sufficiently toform an airchamber, both to give a steady stream from the nozzles and torelieve the tower when in operation.

The operation is as follows: The truck having been drawn in to theproperposition, the ma chineis leveled and braced suciently, and Wateris then forced into the bottom of the lower section D, through a pipe orpipes, K. The connection may be made with a hydrant or with an engine,so as to get suiiicient head, and the vsections will rise, the upper onerst, and so on until the desired altitude is attained.

A sufficient number of men can ride up on the tower, and they can directthe bridge to the proper point and run out the extension platform I.Hose, which is also carried up, is then attached to the nozzles, and canbe carried to any point over the bridge. The guardrail N, for the safetyof the men, maybe made hollow and perforated. This can be connected withthe interior of the tower, and in case the heat is very intense a sprayof water can be thrown from the rail over the men for their protection.

In order to retain the tower at any desired height locks L are made fastto the sections, so that if it be desired to run up only a few of thesections, these locks will hold the others and prevent them from beingextended. The tower can be gradually lowered at any time by drawing outthe water through a checkvalve, and this water can be used by theengines on the embers, so as not to be wasted.

A light tower of this sort might be made available in militaryoperations for a look-out,

l. In combination with the sectional tower as shown, the locking devicesL L, substantially as herein described.

2. In combination with a sectional tower as described, we claim theadjustable platform F and the extension bridge I, substantially asherein described.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

JUDAH PARKER. Witnesses: ISAAC COOK.

f GEO. H. STRONG,

JOHN L. SMITH.

